Why the temple?

[Anonymous]

I have always felt peaceful at the temple and was not really afraid or suprised by things that occur in the temple. But as I have read about Joseph and how he started the current endowment, I am concerned that it is wrong. I know that Joseph’s original intent for the temple was so that the people could become close to God. And the peacefulness in the temple definitely can help one achieve that.

My issue is that Joseph told people that they had to accept the principle of celestial marriage. I am not sure if he always did this, or if it was just at first. I don’t like that he told Emma that she could not be sealed to him eternally unless she accepted celetial marriage and let him marry other women, whom he had already married. I think that is wrong, to tell someone their salvation is dependant on something that they completely disagree with. It seems evident to me that Emma did not agree with the principle as she disagreed with it shortly after her endowment and sealing to Joseph.

So my question then is, if it was wrong, then what in the temple is good? I can get close to God through meditation and a lone hike in the mountains. So must I go to the temple.

When did the leadership not make it a requirement to accept celestial marriage (understood as polygamy) to enter the temple? I know that they worked hard to finish the temple and help members get their endowments before heading west after Joseph’s death. I don’t feel that they made the members accept it then as section 132 wasn’t published publically until several years after arriving in Utah. So why was it ok to change that stance then, when it was so important to Joseph that Emma accept it before she could receive those blessings in the temple? It justs stinks of deception and coersion to me.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and understanding mine better.

[Anonymous]

I suppose temple work could be discussed in four major areas:

[Anonymous]

There is a thread already that is dedicated to the temple. It currently has 25 comments. I am locking this thread and asking that the topic be continued on that thread – after reading the comments already on it.

Thanks.

[Author]

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